Wire-drawing apparatus



Aug. 12, 1930. F, How 1,772,948

WIRE DRAWING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb 3, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 12, 1930. F. HONIG ,772,948

WIRE DRAWING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 3, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

Aug. 12, 1930. F. HONIG WIRE DRAWING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 3, 1921 I INVENTOR." V f'Ffi/vrr HON/6,

ATTORNEYS.

1930. F. HONIG WIRE DRAWING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 5, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet fie. 11

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A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug, 112, il3

FRANK HONIG,

01E OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T CYCLO COBEPOEATIQN, 0F CHICAG Q, ELLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS WIRE-DRAWING} APPARATUS Application filed February 3, 1921, Serial No. 452,024.. Renewed March 11, 1927.

This invention relates particularly to apparatus for drawing wire in accordance with an improved method.

The apparatus is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 represents a view partly in section and partly in elevation, the view being taken as indicated at line 1 of Fig. 2 and being in the nature of a sectional development;

Figure 2, a plan view of the improved apparatus, the machine being shown partly in section; Figure 3, a broken detail view showing one of the reducing dies employed, the section being taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 4:; Figure 4, a section taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 3; Figure 5, a plan sectional view taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 6 and showing a detail of the wire coiling and 2c discharging mechanism; Figure 6, a broken vertical sectional view taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 5; Figure 7, a vertical sectional view of the device for holding the coiled rod which is to be drawn into wire; Figure 8, a

broken transverse vertical sectional View taken as indicated at line 8 of Fig. 7; Figure 9, a view showing a detail of a mold employed for the purpose of efiecting a union between the ends of two coils of rod; Figure 10, a sectional view taken as indicated at line 10 of Fig. 9; Figure 11, a view illustrating the manner in which the rods may beforced together to fill the mold when electrically heated; Figure 12,'a view of the joint 0011- meeting the rods prior tov the swaging operation; and Figure 13, .a view of the joint after the swaging operation.

In accordance with the improved process, the rod is taken from one end of the coil of such stock and is drawn through reducing dies, and the wire which results from the drawing operation is coiled about a stationary drum from which the coil is discharged onto a spool or mandrel; and, from time to time, as may be necessary the final end of the coil of stock which is being drawn into wire is welded and swaged to the advance end of sun other coil of stock, the arrangement and operation being such that successive coils of stock can be weldedtogether to enable the wire-drawing operation to be continuous. Both the means for delivering the stock (rod) to the wire-drawing machine and the means of coiling and discharging the wire produced in such machine are of such character as to enable the wire-drawing operation to be a continuous operation.

In the specification, the stock to be drawn into wire will be referred to as rod. For example, inch rod may be drawn into e0 inch wire,- or any practical decrease in the gage of material may beefi'ected in the wiredrawing operation.

I have found that it is desirable to produce a joint between the successive coils of rod which possesses practically the same physical characteristics as do the rods rolled or produced from billets. Thisresult can be ac complished by welding the rods together in such manner as to produce an enlarged joint and then rolling, hammering or otherwise swaging the enlarged joint to work-it down to the diameter of the rod. By such method, the joint will acquire approximately the same tensile strength, ductility, and other qualities as are originally possessed by the rods themselves. In other words, the method of forming the union between the rods is by working the metal in a manner similar to that in which the original billet is worked in proso ducing the rod. The operation of welding the rods together ma be efiected in various ways as Will be hereinafter described.

In the construction illustrated in the drawings, A represents the frame of a wiredrawing machine embod ing the invention, said frame being formed to provide an annularbed A and a central gear transmission case A B, an electric motor surmounting the transmission case A and provided an i with an armature-shaft extension B which extends centrally through thetransmission case A B a counter-shaft actuated from the shaft B bymeans of spur gears l, the counter-shaft B being equipped at its lower end with a spur gear 2 which drives an annular gear 3 journalled on the shaft B, said annular gear 3 having formed integrally therewith, or rigidly contacted therewith, a bevel gear 13*; B a bevel gear rigidly mounted 1 on the lower end of the shaft B; C to C inclusive, 9. series of wire-pulling capstans arranged in annular relation and suitablyjournalled in the bed A; D, to D inclusive, a series of self-adjusting reducing dies, some of said dies being removed in Fig. 2 however; E, a rod or stock holding device from which the rod passes to the wire-drawing apparatus; F, a wire coiling discharging device; and G, a coil receiving device which receives the coils of wire.

H represents a coil of rod which is being drawn into wire; H represents a second coil of rod which has its advance end welded to the last or final end of the coil H; H represents the Wire as it is being drawn through the machine; H represents a coil forming and being discharged by the mechanism 1F and H represents a coil being deposited on one of the mandrels or cores with which therotatable table of the device G is provided.

The frame of the machine described is of turret formation, the turret forming the gear case A and having its upper portion constituting the frame or casing of the motor B. The annular bed A comprises the stationary annular disk or table 5 which is formed integrally with a section of the transmission casing A and an annular flange 6, the capstans being located between the flange 6 and the transmission casing. The annular pan which isatlorded by the top of the frame of the machine is oil-tight, so that the pan will retain lubricant. The lubricant is discharged on thecapstans and towards the dies through an annular pipe 7 which is provided at suitable intervals on its outer circumference perforations through which the lubricant may be jetted as indicated at the points 7.

The capstans C, G, etc. are equipped with depending shafts 8, which are fitted with bevel gears 9. Some of the bevel gears 9, say those of the first tour or live spindles, are driven by gears 10 mounted on horizontal shafts which are equipped with gears ll which mesh with the gear B"; and the remainder of the gears 9 are driven by bevel gears 12 mounted on horizontal shafts which are equipped at their inner ends with bevel gears 13 which mesh with the central bevel gear B Thus, the slower spindles are shaft B and annular gear 3; and the more rapid spindles are driven through the medium of the bevel gear B which is directly attached to the lower end of .the central shown in Figs. 3 and l. Thus, 1&- represents a floating die proper which is mounted in a holder 15 which has trunnions 15 journalled in the forks of a yoke 16, the yoke 16 having a stem or swivel portion 16 which is journalled in a suitable hearing or socket with which the bed plate 5 is equipped. Thus, the die holder is capable of swinging about a vertical axis and also about a horizontal axis; and the die proper is capable of shifting in the holder-member 15 sulliciently to bring it in a position tangential with the peripheral portions of the capstans about which the wire passes.

The wire coiling and discharging mechanism F (Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6) comprises an arm '17 which projects from the frame A; a vertical shaft 18 rigidly secured to said arm and depending therefrom ;.a stationary drum 19 rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft 18; a rotary arm or carrier 20 suitably journalled on the shaft 18 above the drum 19, said member 20 having a hub 20 equipped with a bevel gear 20 which is driven through the medium of a shaft 21, which, in turn is driven through the medium of a vertical shaft 22, whichyin turn is driven through the medium of the horizontal shaft 23 geared to a bevel gear 24- mounted on one of the cap- Stan-shafts; a sheave or idler 25 about which the wire is given a turn or two as it passes from the last die; a grooved wheel or planetary wire-carrier 26 journalled on the lower end of a stud or shaft 26 carried by one end of the arm or member 20, the wire passing from the member 25 about the member 26, and thence about the stationary drum 19; and an arm 27 having one end connected by a .pivot 27 with the other end of therotary member 20 and having its free end equipped with a planetary presser-member, or drum 2'? whichis supported by a pivot or journal 28 which depends from the arm 2'2. The nresser-member27 is equipped at its lower t end with a thin flange 27. The member 27,

which is free to rotate on its own axis, is held under pressure against the stationary drum 19, or the coils of wire encircling said drum, by means of a coil spring 29 which has one end secured to the extremity of the arm 27 and has the other end secured to the memher 20.

The stationary drum 19 is equipped at upper endwith a beveled flange 30 which projects over a portion of the presser-drum the flange 30 being located approximately .the operation of the machine, it will, by

means of the pulley 26 which Constitutes in effect a revolving bearing, carry the wire around the upper portion of the stationary drum, thus forming the wire into coils which work, in turn, down under the inclined flange 30 of the stationary drum; and as the winding operation goes on, the coils will be successively depressed and wil Lpass the flange 27 of the presser-drum 27 and convolutions will be deposited to form the coil H about one of the cores of the coil receiving device G.

The device G is shown as comprising a standard 31 supporting a rotatable table 32 which equipped with conical cores 33. The

table may be equipped with any desired number of cores for receiving coils of wire. It is shown, for convenience, as equipped with two cores. In practice, however, four cores are preferable.

The stock-holding device E comprisespreferably a hollow half-cylindrical member 34 provided with a suitable base 35 and equipped at one end with a wall 36 provided with a conical central discharge portion 36 which which the rod emerges.

" tion of the wall is equipped with a bracket terminates in the central opening 36 through The conical porcarrying a guide-roller 37 I The stock passes about the roller 37 and thence about a roller 38 which'issupported on a bracket carried by a small radial trough 39 which projects from the annular bed A of the mainframe of the machine. The trough 39 has journalled therein a roller 40 over which the stock 7 passes and from the roller 40 the stock passes through an initial reducing die 41, which may be understood as of the same construction as the reducing dies. of the D series. After the wire emerges from the die D it passes about the final capstan C and thence through a final reducing die- 42; and from the die 42, the wire passes about the grooved idler 25 and thence to the pulley 26 which is carried in an annular path about the upper portion of the stationary drum 19 and serves to coil the wire about said drum. Q

The die 42 may also be understood as of the same construction as of the dies of the D series. In other words, it is preferred to use self-adjusting dies throughout. stock as it passes to the reducing dies may be lubricated by a solid or semi-solid lubricant;

teristics as are possessed by the rods.

The rod or and if desired, such lubricant may be placed in the trough 39. 9

The side walls of the coil supporting device E are shown provided at their upperedges with notches 43 which may accommodate rods 44 which serve to hold the coils of rod H and H in upright position. It is preferred,--in taking the stock from the coil, to feed from the inner end of the coil, as illustrated in Fig. 7. In this manner the stock may be fed from the coil without rotating the coil; and this method of feeding also leaves the final end of the coil of stock free to be welded to the inner or initial end of the succeeding coil of stock. If desired, a number of coils'ofistock may thus be welded together before the machine is placed in operation; or the coils may be Welded together during the operation of the machine, as required.

The manner of welding the ends of the coils of stock together may be described with reference to Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive. The mold which may be of sectional construction, is designated 45.- The two pieces of stock, corresponding with the coils of rod H and H are designated by these characters. In Fig. 9, the ends of the pieces of stock are shown extending into the mold, but separated somewhat. The welding may be effected by pouring into the mold, through the opening 46, superheated molten metal sufficient to fill the cavity of the mold. If desired, a suitable flux may be introduced, also. The highly heated molten metal will sufficiently fuse and soften the ends of the rods to produce a persuch as to produce an enlarged joint, as indicated at 47 in Fig. 12. The enlargement is symmetrical and preferably tapered at the parting to the joint the same physical charac- Thus, the'tenacity and ductility of the metal at the joint may be made to correspond almost exactly withthe similar qualities possessed by the rods. The swaging operation is, in-

.fact, similar in character to the operations to which the original billet is subjected in rolling the rod. a

-It is desirable that the enlargement formed at the joint in the welding operation shall be both symmetrical and of sufiicient size to enable the metalto be worked into the proper physical condition by the time the enlargei fectweld. The shape of the mold cavity is be more than 50% greater than the original diameter of the rod, and preferably more than 7 5% greater. However, should the en largement be too'great, thus necessitating an excessive. swaging operation, this may result in hardening the metal or tending to crystallize it. In such case it may be necessary to anneal the metal at the joint after the joint has been reduced to the original diameter of the rod.

If desired, the welding may be eflected electrically in accordance with the method indicated in Fig. 11. In such case, the ends of the rods are so prepared as to produce a somewhat rough or irregular contact, and a large volume of electric current at low voltage is passed through the rods. This results in fusing the rods, owing to the imperfect contact at the ends, and the rods become sufficiently fused and softened to enable them "to beforced into the mold against each other and caused to fill the mold cavity, thus producing an enlarged joint of the nature shown in Fig. 12. The swaging operation may then be performed in the manner already described.

It may be stated that the process of producing welded and swaged joints is applicable to various metals and alloys, such as iron, steel, copper, brass, etc. In each case, those skilled .in the art will readily understand the care to be exercised in workingwith any particular metal or alloy.

The operation of the improved machine may be stated briefly The rod-coils are placed in standing position in the holder E, the coils being supported, as may be necessary by placing transverse bars 44 in the notches 43. Feeding is preferably effected from the inner end of the coil, as indicated in Fig. 7 although it might be performed from the outer end. Feeding from the inner end, however, has the advantage that it can be performed without much disturbance of the coil; and it is more convenient to feed the inner end through the funnel-shaped guide afforded by'the cone 36* and the orifice 36", In-any case, the rod is fed by drawing it out laterally from the plane of the coil while the .coil remains stationary, or practically so. Several coilsof rod may be Welded together before the machine is set in operation, or the coils may be welded together from time to time, as the operaton of the machine continues. This method enables the wire-drawing process to be a continuous one until the dies become so worn as to require replacement. I

It will be understood that in starting the wire-drawing operation, it is necessary to point the end of the rod and join it to a wire threaded through the machine.

The machine may be operated at maximum practicable speed without fear of rupturing the wlre at the joints, since the joints possess the same physical characteristics as the original rods. For this reason, a largely increased output may be attained.

From the description which has been given of the wire coiling and discharging mechanism F, it will be understood that the convolutions produced about the stationary drum 19 are non-rotating. In other words, the wire convolutions are simply forced or caused to gravitate downwardly as other convolutions are wound upon the drum under the beveled flange 30. As will be understood further, the wire is clamped against the stationary drum by the planetary presserroller 27*, so that the planetary roller 26, about which the wire is given a turn, exerts a drawing pressure on the wire suflicient to draw it through the final reducing die 42; and as the wire is thus drawn through the final reducing die, the planetary 'roller 26 carries it around the stationary drum 19 and forms the convolutions thereon. The

gearing between the rotary member 20 and v nular section 49 which forms the bed plate 5, annular outer flange 6, and heavy central flange 49 which constitutes a portion of the turret A a depending central cylindrical section 50 which forms a section of the turret; a-spider-like member 51 which forms the base of the turret; a central short cylindrical section 52 which surmounts the flange 49*; and a casting 53 surmounting the section 52 and forming the casing of the motor 13. It will be understood that these sections are fastened together rigidly by suitable means (not shown). The bearings for the shafts of the gear mechanism, or drivingmechanism,-are formed on the various castings, as

will be readily'understood from the illustration.

It will be noted from'Fig. 2 that the rodfeeding device E and, the wire coiling and discharging device F are located on the same side of the machine, where an operator can readily-give such attention as may be necessary. The machine is very compact and admirably suited to the purpose of wire drawing.

In Fig. 1, 54 indicates an overflow-pipe through which excess of lubricant may drain from the bed pan A.

It is obvious that the Wire coiling and discharging mechanism exerts a constantly shifting gripping action upon the wire while carrying the wire in an annular path to form convolutions; and the convolutions formed are progressivel discharged from the wire carrier and associated gripping means. The convolutions discharged gravitate from the convolution-forming mechanism as a non-r0- tating coil, which can be readily removed without stopping the operation of the mechanism. It is obvious, also, that the planetary coiling and discharging mechanism may be employed for drawing or pulling wire for any desired purpose. For example, the mechanism may be advantageously employed where wire is to be drawn through a tinning or coating operation or through an annealing furnace.

It may be remarked that wire is drawn to and wound upon the member 25, which thus acts as a capstan; and wire is taken from the member 25 and wound in a reverse direction on the storage-member 19, the interposed rotatable device 20 and attendant means functioning in such transfer.

Ihe foregoing description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with wire-drawing means,

- of wire coiling and discharging mechanism comprising a planetary wire carrier, a drum about which convolutions of wire may be formed by said planetary carrier, and means for holding the wire convolutions in such manner that the planetary wire carrier may exert drawing action on the wire being drawn through the machine.

2. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with wire-drawing means, of wire coiling and discharging mechanism comprising a planetary wire carrier, a stationary drum about which convolutions of wire may be formed by said planetary carrier, and a planetary presser-member engaging convolutions of wire on said drum and serving to hold the wire so that said planetary wire carrier may exert a pulling action upon the wire being drawn.

3. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with wire-drawing means, of wire coiling and discharging mechanism comprising a planetary wire carrier, a drum about which said carrier moves, said drum being provided with a bevel flange adjacent to which the convolutions are formed by said carrier, and planetary means for holding convolutions clamped to said drum in order that said carrier may exert pulling action on the wire being drawn.

is I a mach ne 9 the charac er set forth,

the combination with wire-drawing means, of'wire coiling and discharging mechanism comprising a stationary drum, a driven rotary member surmounting said drum, a planetary wire carrier mounted on said rotary member, and a planetary presser-member mounted on said rotary member.

the combination with wire drawing means, of wire coiling and discharging mechanism comprising a drum, a driven rotary member atone end of. said drum, a planetary wire carrier mounted on said rotary member, and a spring-heldpresser'member mounted on said rotary member and serving to engage convol-utions of wire on said drum.

6. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with wire-drawing means, of wire coiling and discharging mechanism comprising a stationary drum having a flanged upper end, a surmounting rotary member equipped with a planetary wire carrier and a planetary presser-member, and an idler coaxial with said rotary member, about which the wire passes on its way from the dies to theplanetary wire carrier.

' 7. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with wire-drawing means, of a stock-holding device comprising a chamber having side walls and a bottom wall, said side walls being provided with notches for receiving transverse bars and said chamber being adapted to receive coils in standing position, said chamber having at one end a central conical guide through which the rod may be fed from the inner circumference of the coil.

8. In a machineof the character set forth, the combination with a reducing die, of mechanism for drawing wire through said die and coiling and discharging the wire, comprising a planetary wire carrier and associated wire-gripping means, whereby a pulling action is exerted upon the wire while the wire is formed into convolutions and discharged from the mechanism.

9. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a reducing die, of mechanism for drawing wire through said die and coiling and discharging the wire, comprising a planetary wire carrier and associated wire-gripping means, whereby a pulling action is exerted upon the wire while the wire is formed into convolutions and discharged from the mechanism, and a shiftably mounted coil-receiving core beneath said mechanism and adapted to receive the convolutions as discharged.

10. Wire coiling and discharging mechanism comprising a planetary wire carrier and associated wire-gripping means which exert a constantly shifting gripping action upon the wire while pulling the wire and carrying it in a path forming convolutions, the c n o ut n be g p g ssiv y i c arg d 5. In a machine of the character set forth,

from the wire carrier and associated grip- I ping means.

11. In mechanism cf the character set forth, the combination of a planetary Wire carrien and associated wire gripping means, whereb a pulling action is exerted upon the wire w ile the mm is formed into convolutions and discherged. hem the mechanism.

FRANK'HUNIG, 

